KARACHI: Fate of 154 students hangs in the balance
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, April 9: The fate of 154 students of the University of Karachi hangs in the balance as their results of final year have not been announced for the past four months over a row between the political science department and the varsity’s administration.
Row developed over the question of mandatory attendance in the class. The course in charge claimed that a number of students had not attended classes while students disputed the claim and a committee was formed to inquire into the matter.
Since then, modified final lists with increased number of successful candidates had been displayed several times but the issue had not been resolved so far.
The students of political science department may also not attend the coming university convocation due to non-issuance of marks sheets.
Well-placed sources said 75 per cent attendance was prerequisite to pass the exam though students with 60 per cent class attendance were also allowed to appear in the exam provided they deposited the fine. However, students having less than 60 per cent attendance were not allowed in any case. The course in charge, Ms Samar Sultana, compiled the first list and mentioned 42 students out of total 154, who were barred from taking exam for not meeting the attendance criteria. All the affected students had objected to the decision and went to pro-vice chancellor of the varsity.
As their exam of International Relations course was due the next day, the pro-vice chancellor allowed all the students to take the exam and said the matter would be sorted out subsequently. All the students appeared in the exam on November 28, 2006, and a committee was formed comprising two senior faculty members of arts and the newly appointed chairman of the political science department, Abdullah Qadri.
The committee reviewed the attendance of each and every student and issued a new list of attendance. Except five, all of the students were declared eligible for the exam. The same list was sent to the semester cell, which prepared the final result, the sources added.
However, Samar Sultana compiled the result of students declaring 32 students ineligible for the exam due to short of attendance and sent the list along with the result to the semester cell. Earlier, she had mentioned 42 such students who were not eligible for the exam due to short attendance. The semester cell consequently issued the final result of successful candidates dropping 16 students for not meeting attendance criteria in the course.
Sources said the course in-charge allegedly did not honour the committee’s decision. They said the semester cell did not have power to alter the list of thin attendance recommended by the course in charge. However, the final result compiled by the semester cell mentioned only 16 such students, whose results were withheld for thin attendance.
The students again approached the pro-vice chancellor and lodged their protest over the contradictions in decisions taken by various sections of varsity’s administration in compiling the results. The case had become more complicated as some students without mentioning any reason were declared eligible, sources said.
